Isaac Mbenza (born 8 March 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Belgian Pro League club Charleroi. Born in France and eligible to represent DR Congo and Belgium, he has represented the latter at several youth levels.
 Mbenza in 2016 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Isaac Mbenza[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 8 March 1996 | ||
| Place of birth | Saint-Denis, France | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Charleroi | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2005-2011 | ROFC Stockel | ||
| 2011-2012 | FC Brussels | ||
| 2012-2013 | KV Mechelen | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2016 | Valenciennes B | 30 | (3) |
| 2015–2016 | Valenciennes | 48 | (7) |
| 2016–2017 | Standard Liège | 21 | (1) |
| 2017–2019 | Montpellier | 54 | (11) |
| 2018–2019 | → Huddersfield Town (loan) | 22 | (1) |
| 2019–2021 | Huddersfield Town | 41 | (5) |
| 2020 | → Amiens SC (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Qatar SC | 10 | (0) |
| 2022– | Charleroi | 59 | (5) |
| International career | |||
| 2013 | Belgium U17 | 2 | (0) |
| 2015 | Belgium U19 | 1 | (0) |
| 2017–2019 | Belgium U21 | 16 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 March 2024 | |||
Personal life
editMbenza was born in France and is of Congolese descent, and emigrated to Belgium at 5.[2][3][4]
Club career
editMbenza started playing at ROFC Stockel at the age of 9 before moving on at the age of 15 to FC Brussels for a season, followed by another season at KV Mechelen before his move to Valenciennes FC.[4]
Montpellier
editOn 31 January 2017, Mbenza signed for French club Montpellier.[5][6]
Huddersfield Town
editOn 9 August 2018, Mbenza moved to Premier League club Huddersfield Town on a season-long loan with the obligation of a transfer in the summer of 2019.[7]
He made his debut as a 68th minute substitute in a goalless draw with Cardiff City on 25 August 2018.[7] On 5 May 2019, he scored his only goal in the 2018–19 season, coming as a 60th minute equaliser in the 1–1 draw with Manchester United.[8]
Following Huddersfield's relegation to the EFL Championship, Mbenza's loan was made permanent on 9 July 2019 until the end of 2020–21 season, with the club having the option of a further season.[9]
He only made 6 appearances for Huddersfield in the 2019–20 season, and departed on loan to Amiens on 3 February 2020 for the remainder of the season.[10]
He featured more under the manager, Carlos Corberàn, who had been appointed in advance of 2020–21 season. He made 37 appearances scoring 5 goals, with 3 coming direct from free kicks in games against Birmingham City,[11] Sheffield Wednesday[12] and Middlesbrough.[13]
On 11 May 2021, Huddersfield exercised their option to extend Mbenza's contract up to the end of the 2021–22 season.[14] But on 6 September, his contract was terminated.[15]
Charleroi
editOn 14 March 2022, Mbenza signed a three-month contract with Charleroi, with an option to extend.[16]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played on 1 October 2019[17]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Valenciennes B | 2013–14 | CFA 2 | 10 | 1 | — | — | — | 10 | 1 | |||
| 2014–15 | 18 | 2 | — | — | — | 18 | 2 | |||||
| 2015–16 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 30 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 3 | ||
| Valenciennes | 2014–15 | Ligue 2 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| 2015–16 | 35 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 6 | ||
| Total | 48 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 7 | ||
| Standard Liège | 2016–17 | Belgian First Division A | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | 27 | 1 | |
| Montpellier | 2016–17 | Ligue 1 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 3 |
| 2017–18 | 38 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 10 | ||
| Total | 54 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 13 | ||
| Huddersfield | 2018–19 | Premier League | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 |
| 2019–20 | Championship | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| Total | 27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 170 | 23 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 187 | 25 | ||
References
edit- ^ "2018/19 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
- ^ "Découverte: Isaac Mbenza belgo-congolais de Standard de Liège !". 14 December 2016.
- ^ "België of Congo: Nationale belofte heeft zijn beslissing gemaakt". 26 March 2017.
- ^ a b "ISAAC MBENZA: MY LIFE IN WEST YORKSHIRE". Huddersfield Ton. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
- ^ "Isaac Mbenza to Montpellier". Standard Liège. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ^ "Isaac Mbenza nouveou Pailladin" (in French). Montpellier HSC. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ^ a b "Huddersfield sign winger Mbenza on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "Man Utd miss out on top four after draw". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "TRANSFER: MBENZA JOINS TOWN PERMANENTLY". www.htafc.com. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "CONFIRMED: MBENZA LOAN TO AMIENS APPROVED". www.htafc.com. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "Blues score late to beat Huddersfield". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "Terriers beat Owls in Yorkshire derby". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "Boro come from behind to beat Terriers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "RETAINED LIST CONFIRMED". www.htafc.com. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "ISAAC MBENZA DEPARTS HUDDERSFIELD TOWN". Huddersfield Town A.F.C. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ "ISAAC MBENZA DÉBARQUE AU SPORTING !" (Press release) (in French). Charleroi. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
- ^ Isaac Mbenza at Soccerway. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
External links
edit- Isaac Mbenza at Soccerway
- Isaac Mbenza at the Royal Belgian Football Association
- Isaac Mbenza at WorldFootball.net